Nangarhar produces 94,000 metric tons of gur this season

JALALABAD: Farmers in four
districts of eastern Nangarhar province have produced some 94,000 metric tons
of gur or brown sugar from sugarcane yield this season, replacing Pakistani
gur.

The farmers say the gur they
produced is sold like hot cakes locally but the government has not yet extended
any support to them.

The gur manufactured in Kama
district of Nangarhar is famous and a large number of youth daily visit
manufacturing units, called locally as “Gani” in the district.

A Pajhwok Afghan News team also
visited Kama district and talked with farmers about the making of gur.

Farmers said previously they
would sell their sugarcane produce in cities for making sugarcane juice, but
now they have established their own gur-making units and are happy with the
returns.

One of them, Wilayat Khan, a
resident of Pirzo village in Kama district, said he planted sugarcane on his
land this season and had already set up a Gani to make gur.

He said the gur making had not
only increased their income from the sugarcane crop but also created jobs for
many people.

Najibullah, a resident of Mastal
village, said sugarcane crop was harvested after a long wait and the government
should assist farming by offering them improvised seeds to improve their
sugarcane production.

Nangarhar agriculture officials
say 94 metric tons of sugar has been manufactured so far this season in four
districts of the province.

Deputy agriculture director Abdul
Waris Tand said that 1660 hectors of land was grown with sugarcane crop in
Kama, Khewa, Batikot and Behsud districts this year.

He said so far 94.652 metric tons
of gur had been produced so far and besides Nangarhar the gur was sold to
buyers in Kunar, Laghman, Kabul and other provinces.

He said the locally produced gur
had almost replaced the Pakistani gur because it was fondly bought at home.

A shopkeeper in Jalalabad, who
was selling gur, said previously they sold Pakistani gur, but now every
costumer used to ask about local gur.

He said the locally produced gur
had a good taste and was pure and free from chemicals.

Agriculture experts say besides
Nangarhar the environment in other eastern provinces suits sugarcane, which was
abundantly produced in the region in the past.

Attiqullah Obaidyani, who
agriculture faculty teacher at the Nangarhar University, said Nangarhar farmers
were historically familiar with sugarcane production, but they needed
government assistance in using good seed.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan Labor
Union head Dr. Mohammad Liaqat Adil said workers at Ganis were subjected to
heavy labor for long hours but paid low wages. (Pajhwok)